|
|
|
Chad Parish
{K:6155} 8/21/2006
|
Great clarity, nicely composed.
|
|
|
|
|
Radmila Gorjanovic
{K:3153} 8/21/2006
|
This version is much better :-)
Greetings
R...
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
Thanks for stopping by, Chad, appreciate your comment...:)
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
Thanks for your input Raquel, appreciate it...:)
|
|
|
|
|
Engy Farahat
{K:11591} 8/21/2006
|
Wow!! fabulous composition dear Linda.
amazing colors, lighting, DOF.
and beautiful shadow. I like it so much 7++
ng..
|
|
|
|
|
Francisco N-G
{K:26892} 8/21/2006
|
Great detail and colours. The playfulness of the shadows. The composition is very nice and, of course, peguémonos unas copitas. ;^)
Abrazos.
Francisco
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Berlier
{K:2003} 8/21/2006
|
Hi Linda sweetie,
The differences are subtle. I do like the change in the cropping and glass clarity much better in this one. But I also like the intensity of contrast in the other. You have lost a bit of tone in the top of the wall comparatively but I don't find this distracting and takes the contrast in the other direction. Lightening the shadow is also interesting. What did you use for this, Levels? Have you played with the Shadow/Highlight adjustment? It can give you control over lightening the shadows without blowing-out the highlights. It's hard to decide which shot is better, I really like them both! A LOT! ~ Warm regards, Rocky
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
Hahahaha....OMG, you have the eyes of a hawk...I had to pull up both images and compare them. I see what you mean about the loss of tone on the wall....not sure why though, I did clone away some of the spots, but you're right, great eye you have...wow, impressive and thank you, that helps me to look with a more critical eye. I appreciate Hugo's observance too regarding the shadow...what are your thoughts on that? What are your thoughts on RAW versus JPEGS? I've heard many different viewpoints on it, and honestly in the jpg version, once completed...I don't see a big difference, especially for uploading on the web. Now for printing, I do think I'd rather use the RAW file because obviously it has more information. :)
Sam Graziano suggested using the highlight/shadow feature but then he wrote back and said it didn't work. I did take a look at that and it didn't, but admittedly I'm not well versed on using that tool. Basically I cloned it...it took a long time, and I had to keep playing with the opacity and did a few different versions, this was the one I liked best. I tried to use the magnetic marquee to select the area and adjust it but that didn't work either...a level's adjustment, duh, never thought of that...geez, that might have worked...how would you do that, select the area, inverse and levels? And thank you, you're the sweetie, I appreciate you and your words tremendously!!! :)
|
|
|
|
|
Jose Ignacio (Nacho) Garcia Barcia
{K:91601} 8/21/2006
|
stunning details. marvelous composition. outstanding portafolio.
|
|
|
|
|
Paolo Corradini
{K:50692} 8/21/2006
|
good version again! i love it!:)
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
Hahaha...thank you Francisco. I am nursing a cold, that's what started this whole thing, went to get a cognac, then thought about this project and took some shots of the cognac glass (with the cognac in it) and this wine glass...anyway, a great project, I had a lot of fun getting these shots, I'm sure my neighbors enjoyed the show, they probably thought I'd had to much to drink...Hahaha..nice to hear from you mi querido...abrazos :) I like these new smily faces too...:)
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Berlier
{K:2003} 8/21/2006
|
Featured Critique
Hey Linda Sugar,
Just call me ol' Hawkeye. LOL!
I love the clone tool but WOW, that's a lot of cloning.
I think the dark shadow of the original didn't bother me in the least. Triangles in photos are (as Martha Stewart would say) "a good thing."
Sam's idea of using the S/H adjustment is a great idea but working on a JPG won't give you the results you want with this. It will just exaggerate the noise in the shadows. You will need to be working on a RAW file and there are a couple of ways to do this.
Either open the file from ACR at a high resolution (at least 300) in PS and do what Sam suggests or make two RAW file adjustments (one setting the exposure for the overall image exposure and another set just to lighten the shadows). Open both in PS and then these could be merged into one document (just drag n drop one on the other) as two layers with the lighter shadows on top. Opt/Alt+Click on the mask for this layer (this will hide the layer temporarily) and then paint over the shadow area to reveal the lighter shadow.
My view on RAW versus JPG is that RAW is ALWAYS better (and your JPG is a good example of why). Think of a RAW file as a digital negative. Just like a negative that you would take into a darkroom and make various adjustments (without changing the negative), you can likewise do the same thing with a RAW file. The changes you make to a RAW file are not permanent. The changes are stored in an .xmp file so the next time you open it you will see the last changes. However, you can always reset to the original settings.
JPG has numerous problems. First and foremost, it permanently alters any image through it's compression algorithm. This is what created the unrepairable noise in the shadows of your image. Each time you change a JPG image and save it, then reopen it and change/save it, it will lose data and get noisier and noisier (think "copy of a copy" with audio tapes).
As I started to look closer at this image, it dawned on me that a shadow wouldn't wrap down the edge of the wall like this but instead would be faded at the edge and the rest of it would be off-camera somewhere (on the ground?).
That being said, I didn't really notice it until I was trying to figure out a way to lighten up the triangle without blowing-out the highlights.
If you're not that concernd about an image, JPG is fine. However, when quality, color and clarity are big concerns then there is no better choice than RAW.~ Warmest regards, Rocky
|
|
|
|
|
Galal El Missary
{K:84111} 8/21/2006
|
Nice composition & tones linda ... I like it .
Galal
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
Thanks Ol' Hawkeye...LOL! What a fantastic lesson in PS. Thanks, for taking the time to do that. I’ll definitely check that out…but I’m all done playing with this image. As far as the cloning goes, yeah it took a while, but it was fun too, and it’s good practice. I like drawing and painting and that’s very similar. I’ve got a painting program that I plan to start using in the very near future, and it helps to become more proficient with the Intuos pen and tablet. Which has become my mouse….
This image was taken from my balcony ledge (concrete wall) on the 7th floor, the beach is reflected in the glass and the oof background is the ocean. The light coming in was very strong on the outside and there was very little light on the inside, perhaps that generated the noise. Because I never make changes to, or resave a jpg, because I know that not only can it introduce artifacts, but you’re likely to lose information as well. I save my RAW, or jpg files as psd's after any initial changes, and always with a minimum of 300 resolution. If I make changes to an image I go back to the original psd...and rename them each time, and never change the original.
As far as the shadow goes I opened the raw image and made my initial adjustments and then made my attempt to lessen the strength of the darkness in the shadow, so I tried to visualize where the actual shadow would go and severely lightened around that area, then working with different brushes and opacities continued to lighten only the severely darkened part of the shadow, so that it wouldn’t be so black…I didn’t touch the shadow on the top of the wall. I do think it’s realistic that it would wrap that way…the whole area would be dark but the area that is shaded by the glass would be darker. So what do you think of that…LOL…(inserts face with tongue sticking out).
Are you from Arizona? I lived in the Scottsdale, Phoenix area in the late 70’s early 80’s. Thank you again for the excellent turorial, I will copy and paste it into a word document and use it…hugs!! :)
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
In looking at it again...I see what you mean, I think it would wrap but not as neatly as I did esp. on the left...:(
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Berlier
{K:2003} 8/21/2006
|
You are too cute!!
Yeah, I'm a "Zonie." Been here since '95 and I love it. Where you at? ~ Warmest regards, Rocky
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
An all your life "zonie"? I'm in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico :):) I remember how dry and hot it is there. I used to like to spend time in the desert when I lived there. Now it would be great to get some of the desert flowers, cactus, and vegetation, some of the landscapes would be awesome...I'll have to look through your portfolio more and see if I recognize anything. Hugs! :)
|
|
|
|
|
Hugo de Wolf
{K:184670} 8/21/2006
|
Hi Linda, Quite an improvement, very well done, but it does look a bit fake, with this angle of light, the shadow of the glass could've never "wrapped itself over the edge of the ledge. Maybe I'm all mistaken. I'm presuming the inside shaded part of the ledge is perpendicular to the surface...
Did you also try the piece of cardboard? I think that would eliminate any doubt there might be. It would definitely eliminate the HDR approach Rocky mentions. Reading the comments you received, I noticed Rocky mentions the same about the shadow...:)
I like the effort you put in this shot, and you definitely managed to get a great line of critiques going...:)
Cheers,
hugo
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Berlier
{K:2003} 8/21/2006
|
No. Not all my life here. Just since '95. But hey, if you survive three years here they say you're entitled to call yourself a "zonie." 
This is the time of year where we get the Monsoons and it can get pretty humid some days. The joy is all the wonderful cloud formations and sunsets! Yes, the desert is full of life too.
You can go to my website (www.rockyberlier.com) and see some of my older stuff that has a lot of landscapes and sunsets. I think I've grown a lot since I took the stuff on that site and I need to seriously update it soon. Just have to find the time.
Wow! Puerto Rico!? I've always wanted to go. Maybe someday. Big hug. ~ Warmest regards, Rocky
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
Hi Hugo, I'm so glad you came back to take a look at this, but now I'm embarrassed too, because I can see what you and Rocky are saying, and you're both right...duh :(....LOL. I don't know why i couldn't see that before. I should have left the shadow as it was, but just lightened it so it wouldn't have been so severe. I think that would have also worked, yes?
Well I always have to learn everything the hard way, it's that hard head of mine, it's in the genes..LOL! But hey, it's a good lesson.
No, I didn't try to reshoot it yet..but I will definitely do that and post it. Thanks again, I'm sure I can use that cardboard idea with other things too, I really appreciate you and your helpful words Hugo :) :) Cheers, Linda
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/21/2006
|
Hey I see you got a Featured Critique for your very excellent comment to me...Congratulations, you definitely deserve it, I know that many others will benefit from your tutorial. I just commented to Hugo and......I don't know why I couldn't see what you were saying about the shadow until AFTER I made that stupid, story of my life...LOL.
Yes I'll check out your website, thanks for the link. I like it here in Puerto Rico, the people are very warm and friendly. The climate is wonderful. We have mountains and the sea...so we have it all. Big hugs!! And thanks again for all of your help, very much appreciated...Linda
|
|
|
|
|
Rocky Berlier
{K:2003} 8/21/2006
|
LOL! I was wondering why it was all in bold! HA!
Gee, I'll have to be more careful about what I say now. LOL! Well that should give you some deserved visibility too. Cool! You're welcome for the help and thank you for being so gracious in how you received it. Big hug. ~ Warm regards, Rocky
|
|
|
|
|
Alicia Popp
{K:82561} 8/22/2006
|
Otra estupenda imagen, tal deliciosa como la anterior con sutiles diferencias y un encanto especial... felicitaciones!
|
|
|
|
|
Virgis Dromantas
{K:4222} 8/22/2006
|
Very clear shot, dear Linda. Congratulations on the BIP award!!!
Kind regards,
Virgis
|
|
|
|
|
Ivonne *
{K:8484} 8/22/2006
|
another - EXCELLENT WORK, Linda ! You did it in a masterly fashion ! Warm greetings, Ivi
|
|
|
|
|
Mohsen Bayramnejad
{K:21434} 8/22/2006
|
I'm not sure what can I say...I just want to made a comment for this great work! Truly superb work..with nice light and amazing DoF! thats all!!
|
|
|
|
|
Gust@vo Sch3v3rin
{K:118786} 8/23/2006
|
Gran trabajo mi querida amiga!
Felicitaciones por el merecido premio!
|
|
|
|
|
Toshi
{K:12024} 8/23/2006
|
Great work Linda - a beautiful piece of glass, nice and crisp, especially against the blurred background. The composition is well balanced with the shadow on the ledge, which is a great touch. Very well done, and congrats on the award.
Toshi
|
|
|
|
|
Saeed Al Shamsi
{K:47538} 8/23/2006
|
Magic touch with super art arrangement, can be a good subject for commercial use.
Fine work.
Congrats for BIP.
Regards
Saeed
|
|
|
|
|
Armend Nimani
{K:1005} 8/23/2006
|
Exellent Shot great colours and composition
Congrats for BIP
Best Regards Armend
|
|
|
|
|
Paolo Corradini
{K:50692} 8/23/2006
|
yesssss! well deserved BIP! :)
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/23/2006
|
Thank you dear...very much appreciated..:)
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/23/2006
|
Always good to get your words dear Saeed, thank you :)
|
|
|
|
|
Doyle D. Chastain
{K:99839} 8/23/2006
|
Not much left for me to say here by way of critique Linda . . . but I DID still want to say congrats to you for the award and to tell you I really like this one for the beautiful BG . . . lovely color and a great 3D feel . . . Wow! Very nice.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/23/2006
|
Thanks this project is fun...nice to get you out of your comfort zone....appreciate your comments Doyle..:)
|
|
|
|
|
Jeanette Hägglund
{K:59907} 8/23/2006
|
A stunner
Jeanette
|
|
|
|
|
Tony Lawless
{K:306} 8/24/2006
|
Hi again, Linda. Congratulations on the awards for this one. It is a wonderful shot. And thanks for arousing such an interesting series of comments.
Actually I think I like the first one better, with its strong shadow, though this one has a little more sparkle in the glass itself. Maybe that's the RAW value. Be happy! Tony.
|
|
|
|
|
NN
{K:26787} 8/24/2006
|
Hi Linda! Yeah, let´s celebrate your award with a drink; CONGRATS!!! Awesome background colours and a very simple & elegant compo/crop! Funny, this isn´t a CC image but you´ve got very valuable comments here :) I like this one better than the first version, although I prefer the tone of the ledge in the first one. *hugs*
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/24/2006
|
Thank you Tony for your valuable comments. It's funny how RAW files sometimes are drastically different in terms of richness which I guess is a direct parallel to the fact that there is more information, and sometimes I can't tell the difference at all. I am happy with this image and inspired to do some more after I start feeling better, thank you again, I very much appreciate your visit and your words...:)
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/24/2006
|
Come on over Sweetie, it'll be here waiting. Wouldn't that be fun to go shooting together!!! :) Yes I got some very good and very valuable comments, and I am thankful, so much nicer than a bunch of meaningless words...I think I increased the contrast a tad more in this one and lost some of the detail on the ledge, but got some more sparkle in the glass...when I process an image I go strictly by eye, and never pay attention to numbers...I cook the same way, a little of this, a little of that...LOL...nice to hear from you dear, thank you..hugs!! :)
|
|
|
|
|
Robert Kocs
{K:89061} 8/24/2006
|
Oh my friend, I don't know what say to you. I'm so sorry
that my late comments and I thought so you left to
UF community.
When I read your words for my recent one, I was happy.
Well, I'm very proud of your success, and congratulations
for your "BiP" award. It is very well deserved!
Love the great play with tones, colours and shape.
Really great still life with lovely mood!
Nicely done dear friend! Bravooo! 7+++
Have a nice day dear Linda!
Robert
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 8/24/2006
|
Thank you dear...it's good to see you on my picture and to get your words...:)
|
|
|
|
|
Pradnya D
{K:3833} 8/24/2006
|
amazing shot,Loved blue sky , refelction on glass, shadow of glass also..very creative
Congrates on well deserved award
-Pradnya
|
|
|
|
|
Kes
{K:18269} 8/26/2006
|
Hi Linda, excellent work, congrats!
Kes
|
|
|
|
|
Roberto Arcari Farinetti
{K:177201} 8/28/2006
|
pure light... new best wishes and congrats!!
besos y abrazos..
roby
|
|
|
|
|
Ciprian Ilie
{K:13215} 8/30/2006
|
Fantastic! Love the clarity and the sharpness and the subtle lovely tones.
Regards,
Ciprian
|
|
|
|
|
josep alsina
{K:19880} 9/4/2006
|
Excelente composición, reflejos, delicada iluminación y colores con sus bien conseguidos degradados del fondo.
Josep
|
|
|
|
|
Jose Ignacio (Nacho) Garcia Barcia
{K:91601} 9/12/2006
|
great light.marvelous tones. magnificent. perfect. 7 cong. for the BIB. professional.
|
|
|
|
|
Marian Man
{K:64170} 9/16/2006
|
congratulations dear Linda!!!!!!!!!very well deserved award!!!!!!!
Marian
|
|
|
|
|
stingRay .
{K:136763} 10/2/2006
|
That's my clever girl......more awards for a very well thought out shot. Beautiful bokeh, a lovely angle to the resting place of the glass and I love the detailed reflection. Well done to you my sweet Linda....'See' you again soon, take care....catch....XXX.....Ray;)
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 10/2/2006
|
Thank you again Sweetie, but please you don't have to do that. I appreciate you very much. Glad you like this one too..the brandy was great..LOL..hugs and kisses again my dear...:) Lin
|
|
|
|
|
Mary Brown
{K:67818} 10/6/2006
|
Linda, congratulations on the awards in the last while. As of yet, I do not really understand raw, but it's something I will learn at some point. The subtle changes in this make a difference. Isan't it great to get helpful suggestions from people like Hugo?
MAry
|
|
|
|
|
Meg Metcalfe
{K:5859} 7/10/2007
|
With the exeption of the shadow which I agree wouldn't fold that way, I find this a very pleasent image to view. The background is simply perfect to show off the glass to best advantage. Congratulations on the award....
|
|
|
|
|
Doyle D. Chastain
{K:99839} 2/5/2008
|
This is very cool Linda! The roll-over of the shadow is just un-real . . . PS, I guess? Fascinating shot!
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
|
|
|
|
|
Mehul Chimthankar
{K:17399} 2/25/2008
|
Hi Linda,
Excellent !
Congrats on the award
Mehul
|
|
|
|
|
mahassa bahri
{K:10958} 3/9/2008
|
amazing everything! dear Linda,
the very well chosen dof together with the color of the backgroundis just great,
like the diagonal line very much,
the composition and also the shadow are perfect,
congrats on the very well deserved award,
best of luck, mahassa
|
|
|
|
|
Linda Bique
{K:73877} 3/9/2008
|
Thank you once again dear Mahassa for your kind and generous comments. I'm glad you like this one too...my best to you!! :))
|
|
